The Night No One Showed Up…and Why He Kept Going – Michael WilkerUncomfy: Sticking with Moments That Challenge Us • Season 2026, Episode 14
Apr 8, 2026 • 17m
What would you do if you planned an event and nobody showed up?
Michael Wilker knows exactly how that feels. One night, after years of organizing a monthly meetup, he sat alone at a bar waiting for people that never came. It was awkward, humbling, and it almost made him quit.
But he didn’t.
Instead, Michael kept showing up, and, over time, that simple decision helped grow a small gathering of six dads into a thriving community of more than 400 men in his neighborhood.
ABOUT GUEST
Michael Wilker is one of the co-founders of Del Ray Dads, a grassroots community of 400+ men in Alexandria, Virginia.
CHAPTERS
(0:00) Introduction
(0:48) Nobody Showed Up
(3:37) How Del Ray Dads Began
(4:50) The Listserv
(6:40) Support in Grief
(8:54) Bollywood Dance Rehearsals
(12:15) Rules That Prevent Drama
(13:37) Why It Lasts
(15:05) Conclusion